It originated from outside Mayang and boomed in the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618-907). Assimilating the tender beauty of Jiangnan minor with the straightforward style of Mayang folk songs, the solemn and stirring characteristics of Nuo songs, and bold and vigorous Miao songs, it has developed into a unique style of beauty, warmth, and joy. 

(Nie Bangbang and Zhang Maomao, the Founders of “Lantern Drama”)

The integration of artistic styles in Mayang Lantern Drama has formed a stylistic difference in lantern performances between the upper side and lower side of Mayang. Lantern Drama, also known as “Bold Flower Lantern”, popular in the upper side of Mayang, is mostly performed by adults focusing on singing and dancing. At a brisk pace, the performance is nimble. It plays the lyrics mainly about love stories and social life at a fast pace with wild style. The lower side of Mayang’s Lantern Drama, also known as “Reserved Flower Lantern”, prevails in the lower side of Mayang, which is mostly favored by children with a slow pace and gentle style, focusing on lyrical songs about ancient people’s customs and marriage. 

(Lantern Drama “Hitting Luan Bird”)

(Reserved Flower Lantern)

(Bold Flower Lantern)

In the 27th year of the Guangxu’s reign (1901), Nie Bangbang, a lantern artist in Mayang, adopted the routine of the Yang Opera “Woodcutter Liu Hai” to perform the lantern song “The Toad Pays a New Year’s Call”, pioneering the dramatic creation of lanterns in western Hunan and giving Mayang lanterns the name of “Lantern Drama”. After 1949, Mayang Lantern Drama developed into a comprehensive dramatic art that integrates song and dance in pleasure. When performing, characters such as Dan and Chou accompanied music and dance, or danced accompanied by bands, reflecting a high degree of harmony and unity among the three artistic genres of song, dance, and music. Since 1964, Mayang Lantern Artists have boldly innovated, promoting and developing the art of lantern singing and dancing. At the same time, they have created and transplanted nearly a hundred Lantern Dramas such as “Welcome the Bride Home”, “Stickers”, “Yellow Flowers in the Battlefield”, and “Shajiabang”. The Mayang Lantern Drama gradually developed into one of the small locally preserved dramas in Hunan Province. It was enlisted in the “Hunan Local Drama Records” in 1990. In 2007, Mayang Lantern Drama was selected as one of the first batch of intangible cultural heritage in Huaihua City. In 2009, Mayang Lantern Drama was selected for the second batch of intangible cultural heritage in Hunan Province.

(Translated by Tian Xia)